That day Missus Sommers was tired and a little weak. Between feeding the children and cleaning the house, she had forgotten to eat at all. When she arrived at the large department store, she sat in front of an empty counter. She rested her hand upon the counter. She wore no gloves. Slowly she grew aware that her hand had felt something very pleasant to touch. She looked down. Her hand lay upon a pile of silk stockings. A sign nearby announced that they had been reduced in price. A young girl behind the counter asked her if she wished to examine the silky leg coverings. She smiled. She went on feeling the soft, costly items. Now she used both hands. She held the stockings up to see the light shine through them. Two red marks suddenly showed on her pale face. She looked up at the shop girl. «Do you think there are any size eights-and-a-half among these?» There were a great number of stockings in her size. Missus Sommers chose a black pair and looked at them closely. «A dollar and ninety-eight cents,» she said aloud. «Well, I will buy this pair.» She handed the girl a five dollar bill and waited for her change. What a very small box it was! It seemed lost in her worn old shopping bag.